HISTORY OF PORTSEA S.L.S.C.

The Portsea Surf Life Saving Club was formed in 1949 by a group of local residents to protect the lives of swimmers at the notoriously dangerous Mt. Levy Beach, commonly referred to as the Portsea Back Beach. The beach is part of the Point Nepean National Park, which is managed by Parks Victoria. Since 1949, Portsea SLSC members have been responsible for saving 5,508 lives on our beach.

The Club also prides itself on development of its people. Since 1949 the Club has assisted 3,438 young men and women to gain the Surf Life Saving Australia’s coveted Bronze Medallion as at 30 April 2023. It also operates one of the largest nipper programs in the country, currently capped at 650 nippers every year, providing an introduction of vital surf safety skills for future lifesavers.

The original clubhouse was constructed from a packing crate and was located 200 metres East of the clubhouse as we now know it. The first permanent structure was erected on the present site in 1960 and was upgraded in 1972 with the addition of more storage areas. In 1985 the Committee and members of the Club commenced a 2 year rebuilding project to restore the premises which were severely damaged in a storm. Considerable assistance was given by the Peninsula residents, business community and local service clubs.

REBUILD 2019

Around 2013, the Club commenced a formal process to rebuild its Portsea Back Beach base, having identified that the clubhouse was at the end of its useful life. A volunteer committee was formed to take carriage of the design, planning, construction and fund-raising that would be required to ensure the end result was a fit for purpose clubhouse for today and the future.

It was determined that a complete rebuild of the clubhouse would be required. In addition, a new and improved access road was also required, enabling ambulance and other emergency vehicle access to the clubhouse.

In April 2019, members and supporters of the Club celebrated the opening of the Club’s current clubhouse. The rebuild was only made possible thanks to the generosity of the community and members of the club. In particular, the Club would like to thank and recognise the following people and organisations who made this possible:

  • Victorian Government
  • Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
  • Commonwealth Government
  • Portsea SLSC Foundation

The many families and individuals who supported the Club:

CORNERSTONE SUPPORTERS

Shadda & Drew Abercrombie Calvert-Jones Foundation Andrew Doquile David & Sharon Heffernan
Jeremy & Miranda Lansell J.E.Pizzey Family Ross Adler AC & Fiona Adler Terry & Christine Campbell
Dorman Family Foundation Ric Lansell & Samantha Hetrel Tony & Gwenyth Lennon Family Rayner Family
Agostinelli Family Peter Campbell Craig & Bernadette Drummond Marcus, Megan & Christine Higgins
Stuart & Narelle Lewin Jane Riddell Warwick & Julia Anderson Castan Family
Brian & Sheila Eva Higgins Family Jane Hansen AO & Paul Little AO Elsa, Jack, Rachel & Peter Robertson
Peter & Celia Anderson Timothy Clark Craig Evans & Family Robert Hinton Family
Pieter & Maryclare Los Ken & Gail Roche Andrew & Samantha Ballantyne Michael & Krissy Clemenger
Rob Fildes AM & Family Hirsh Family Antony & Georgina Lynch Roche Family
Bamford Family Foundation Leigh Clifford AO & Sue Clifford Richard ‘Tricky’ Fisher Damien & Sally Honan
Stephen & Megan Macaw Scalzo Family Bardas Foundation Kate & Shayne Collins
Barry & Helen Fitzgerald Lewis & Olivia Hosie Dorothee & Ken MacKenzie Helen & Bill Scott
Beck Family Foundation Connell Family Barbara & Stuart Foley Paul & Kim Hunter
Nick & Julie Martin Richard Smith AM Belgravia Group Adele & Michael Cook
Leo Fortuna Cameron & Natalie Hunter Family Maunder Family Kimble, Charlie & Remy Stynes
Andrew & Annie Bell Barry & Barbara Cooper Fox Family Anthony & Ruth Hynes & Family
McKendrick Family Swann Family Neville J Bertalli Gus & Annabel Cooper
Marcus & Sarah Freeman Patricia Ilhan Peter & Anne McNamara & Family Tegner Family & the Merrin Foundation
Angelo & Sandra Biviano & Family Philip Cornish AM & Caroline Cornish Helen & Michael Gannon Garry & Margaret Johnson
Peter Meurer OAM Chris & Janet Theodosi Blythe Family Andrew & Sarah Cox Family
Gazman Mark & Kate Johnson J & J Michelmore & Family Adam Trescowthick & Brigitte Day
Colin & Imelda Bourke Lisa & Grant Custance Gerner Family Alan & Joy Johnstone
Glen Morley Family Katy & Matt Watts & Family Bowen Family Cutts Family
Peter Griffin AM & Family Kay & Burton Ashley Murdoch Family Webb Gorell Family
Dora & Campbell Burns Annie Danks Trust Rae & Peter Gunn Family Foundation Greg & Melanie Keady Family
Steve, Jenny, James, Nick & Matthew Nola Whitbread Family Will Burrell AM & Celia Burrell AM Ian Darling AO & Min Darling
Mike & Jackie Haintz Kennedy Family Tom & Kate O’Brien James & Sasha Wilson
Andrew & Geraldine Buxton Annette & Leon Davis Steven & Felicity Hales Craig & Connie Kimberley
Michael J. Parkes Winnett Family Richard Buxton & Family Deague Family
J.Hardwick, R.Freer & G.Harris John Knowles OAM Pierce Armstrong Foundation John & Lisa Zeigler
James Calvert-Jones Colin, Michelle, Brittany & Ben DeLutis Jacqui & Dom Hart Sharon & Brian Landy
Pitt Family
Shadda & Drew Abercrombie Calvert-Jones Foundation
Jeremy & Miranda Lansell J.E.Pizzey Family
Dorman Family Foundation Ric Lansell & Samantha Hetrel
Agostinelli Family Peter Campbell
Stuart & Narelle Lewin Jane Riddell
Brian & Sheila Eva Higgins Family
Peter & Celia Anderson Timothy Clark
Pieter & Maryclare Los Ken & Gail Roche
Rob Fildes AM & Family Hirsh Family
Bamford Family Foundation Leigh Clifford AO & Sue Clifford
Stephen & Megan Macaw Scalzo Family
Barry & Helen Fitzgerald Lewis & Olivia Hosie
Beck Family Foundation Connell Family
Nick & Julie Martin Richard Smith AM
Leo Fortuna Cameron & Natalie Hunter Family
Andrew & Annie Bell Barry & Barbara Cooper
McKendrick Family Swann Family
Marcus & Sarah Freeman Patricia Ilhan
Angelo & Sandra Biviano & Family Philip Cornish AM & Caroline Cornish
Peter Meurer OAM Chris & Janet Theodosi
Gazman Mark & Kate Johnson
Colin & Imelda Bourke Lisa & Grant Custance
Glen Morley Family Katy & Matt Watts & Family
Peter Griffin AM & Family Kay & Burton
Dora & Campbell Burns Annie Danks Trust
Steve, Jenny, James, Nick & Matthew Nola Whitbread Family
Mike & Jackie Haintz Kennedy Family
Andrew & Geraldine Buxton Annette & Leon Davis
Michael J. Parkes Winnett Family
J.Hardwick, R.Freer & G.Harris John Knowles OAM
James Calvert-Jones Colin, Michelle, Brittany & Ben DeLutis
Jacqui & Dom Hart Sharon & Brian Landy
Pitt Family

COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS

Nina & Paul Aberdeen Shaf & Nicole Dewani Bryan & Kelly Hilbert Richard & Aisling Martin
Pryse Family John & Belinda Thomson & Family Rob & Jane Barrington Tony & Fiona Dicker
Holuigue Family McCahey Family Renzella Family Tissot Family
Bartlett Family Stuart & Jenny Eason Robin Hunt Charles & June McCann & Family
Sophie Riddell Toland Family Bing Family Alan, Suzy Eskander & Family
Bev & Bailey Hunter McClure Family Graeme Riley & John Hazen Traynor Family
Mr & Mrs Warwick Bray Fergus Family T & S Hunter Family McGuire Family
Rob Robertson Harry & Veneta Tsindos & Family Brougham Family Foundation Jonathan Forster
Peter & Elizabeth Ingham John McIntosh Family Emma Ronald Andrew White & Kerri Turner
Ella Bryan Michael & Christina Fox Martin, Martine & Daniel Jolly Mellor Family
Warwick & Margot Ross Waldron Family J&J Byrne Geoff Freeman & Family
Liz Jones & Family Molnar Family Peter Rowland OAM Elli & Cam Walker
Cadden Family Paul Gaynor Phil & Kate Kelliher Andrew & Anna Molony
Jack & Sandy Rush & Family Russell & Genevieve White & Family Cannon Family John Gibson & Family
James Stoney & Rachael Knight Peter Murray Family Peter & Kristen Sagar David White Family
Chable-McCoy Family David & Melissa Gillham & Family John Laidlaw AO Nelson Family
Sagar Family Simon & Melinda Williams John & Rebecca Clark Dr Glenn Gomez
Jo & Ges Laycock Stephen & Sandra Nicholas Bob Santamaria Michael Wilson
Coventry Family Tom Griffith Li Family Sean O’Callaghan
Scharer Family Simon Wilson Laurie Cox Family Grooby Family
Paul & Lesley Lodge Olive Family David Shergold Ross Wilson Family
Liz & Phil Cramer Grosvenor Foundation R Long Family James & Jane Paynter
Silk Family Charlie & Caroline Yencken Croft Family Glenn Hart
J Long Family Sam & Louise Paynter & Family Skinner Family Crothers Family
Jack & Mary Hawkins Peter & Christine Lupson & Family Lloyd Perrin Fiona Rowland & James Smith
Michael Cunningham David Hendy & Christian Hendy Macmillan Family Perrott Family
Clive Smith Mark & Donna Davies Family Andrew & Lou Hewitt & Family Matt & Sarah Mahon
Sam & Lou Prentice Jeremy & Michelle Smith
Nina & Paul Aberdeen Shaf & Nicole Dewani
Bryan & Kelly Hilbert Richard & Aisling Martin
Pryse Family John & Belinda Thomson & Family
Rob & Jane Barrington Tony & Fiona Dicker
Holuigue Family McCahey Family
Renzella Family Tissot Family
Bartlett Family Stuart & Jenny Eason
Robin Hunt Charles & June McCann & Family
Sophie Riddell Toland Family
Bing Family Alan, Suzy Eskander & Family
Bev & Bailey Hunter McClure Family
Graeme Riley & John Hazen Traynor Family
Mr & Mrs Warwick Bray Fergus Family
T & S Hunter Family McGuire Family
Rob Robertson Harry & Veneta Tsindos & Family
Brougham Family Foundation Jonathan Forster
Peter & Elizabeth Ingham John McIntosh Family
Emma Ronald Andrew White & Kerri Turner
Ella Bryan Michael & Christina Fox
Martin, Martine & Daniel Jolly Mellor Family
Warwick & Margot Ross Waldron Family
J&J Byrne Geoff Freeman & Family
Liz Jones & Family Molnar Family
Peter Rowland OAM Elli & Cam Walker
Cadden Family Paul Gaynor
Phil & Kate Kelliher Andrew & Anna Molony
Jack & Sandy Rush & Family Russell & Genevieve White & Family
Cannon Family John Gibson & Family
James Stoney & Rachael Knight Peter Murray Family
Peter & Kristen Sagar David White Family
Chable-McCoy Family David & Melissa Gillham & Family
John Laidlaw AO Nelson Family
Sagar Family Simon & Melinda Williams
John & Rebecca Clark Dr Glenn Gomez
Jo & Ges Laycock Stephen & Sandra Nicholas
Bob Santamaria Michael Wilson
Coventry Family Tom Griffith
Li Family Sean O’Callaghan
Scharer Family Simon Wilson
Laurie Cox Family Grooby Family
Paul & Lesley Lodge Olive Family
David Shergold Ross Wilson Family
Liz & Phil Cramer Grosvenor Foundation
R Long Family James & Jane Paynter
Silk Family Charlie & Caroline Yencken
Croft Family Glenn Hart
J Long Family Sam & Louise Paynter & Family
Skinner Family Crothers Family
Jack & Mary Hawkins Peter & Christine Lupson & Family
Lloyd Perrin Fiona Rowland & James Smith
Michael Cunningham David Hendy & Christian Hendy
Macmillan Family Perrott Family
Clive Smith Mark & Donna Davies Family
Andrew & Lou Hewitt & Family Matt & Sarah Mahon
Sam & Lou Prentice Jeremy & Michelle Smith

COMPANION SUPPORTERS

Matt Allen Lyn Collinge David Gibson Danielle & Anthony Kift
Nicoll Family Stigter Family Nick Argyrou Collins Family
Gough Family Bill & Marj Knight Nowicki Family Stott Family
Michael & Judy Begg Kate Beadle, Nick Condon & Family Gould Family Simon Knight
Fred Oldfield Paul & Ro Thompson Ann Boyce Jemma & Jeremy Cooper
Jamie Gray Bill & Melissa Lamb Monique Owen David Urquhart
Breadmore Family Gill Corcoran Ben Grodski Warwick Leeming
Geoff & Joyce Park Wain Family Bright Family John Corcoran AM
Geoff & Annie Hall Amanda Lennon Pickle & Family Catherine Walter
Marcus Burke Cutchey Family Tom Hall & Family Steven Lim & Family
Pirenc Family Nick & Claudine West Nicholas Cable Bruce & Pat Davis
John & Sue Harris Georg List Dr Tim Pitt Willmott Family
David Cafferkey De Kretser Chartered Accountants Andrew Henry & Family Judy Matear
Portsea Peers Jane, Helen, Robert & Charles Wills John Camuglia Loic & Kirsty Duchet
Hetherington Family W.McDonald Family Brian Pliatsos Simon, Jane, Nick, Tom & Jack Wilson
Andrew & Genna Chambers David Ellett David & Liz Hoyle McIndoe Family
Sue & Bob Richardson & Family Jim & Sam Woods Clapp Family D. Flockart Family
Ann Hyams Bernard McNamara Tim Rowler Michael Woolrich
Honor Clark Simon Fraser Chris Jacka Geraldine McNamara
Peter Ryan & Family Andy Wright Serena Clark John R Fullerton
Charles & Emily Jamieson Justin & Julia McNamara Family Bill Sinn James & Sandie Wright
Harrison Cleaver David Geer Tim & Jenny Kay Victor Mulder
James Somerton Chris & Hilary Yencken Andrew & Melanie Clements David Gibbs AM
Kfouri Family Nattrass Family Marian Staughton Mandy & Edward Yencken
Matt Allen Lyn Collinge
David Gibson Danielle & Anthony Kift
Nicoll Family Stigter Family
Nick Argyrou Collins Family
Gough Family Bill & Marj Knight
Nowicki Family Stott Family
Michael & Judy Begg Kate Beadle, Nick Condon & Family
Gould Family Simon Knight
Fred Oldfield Paul & Ro Thompson
Ann Boyce Jemma & Jeremy Cooper
Jamie Gray Bill & Melissa Lamb
Monique Owen David Urquhart
Breadmore Family Gill Corcoran
Ben Grodski Warwick Leeming
Geoff & Joyce Park Wain Family
Bright Family John Corcoran AM
Geoff & Annie Hall Amanda Lennon
Pickle & Family Catherine Walter
Marcus Burke Cutchey Family
Tom Hall & Family Steven Lim & Family
Pirenc Family Nick & Claudine West
Nicholas Cable Bruce & Pat Davis
John & Sue Harris Georg List
Dr Tim Pitt Willmott Family
David Cafferkey De Kretser Chartered Accountants
Andrew Henry & Family Judy Matear
Portsea Peers Jane, Helen, Robert & Charles Wills
John Camuglia Loic & Kirsty Duchet
Hetherington Family W.McDonald Family
Brian Pliatsos Simon, Jane, Nick, Tom & Jack Wilson
Andrew & Genna Chambers David Ellett
David & Liz Hoyle McIndoe Family
Sue & Bob Richardson & Family Jim & Sam Woods
Clapp Family D. Flockart Family
Ann Hyams Bernard McNamara
Tim Rowler Michael Woolrich
Honor Clark Simon Fraser
Chris Jacka Geraldine McNamara
Peter Ryan & Family Andy Wright
Serena Clark John R Fullerton
Charles & Emily Jamieson Justin & Julia McNamara Family
Bill Sinn James & Sandie Wright
Harrison Cleaver David Geer
Tim & Jenny Kay Victor Mulder
James Somerton Chris & Hilary Yencken
Andrew & Melanie Clements David Gibbs AM
Kfouri Family Nattrass Family
Marian Staughton Mandy & Edward Yencken

A PICTORIAL LOOK AT THE CLUB THROUGH THE YEARS

CLUBHOUSE (CIRCA 1950)
FIRST R&R TEAM (CIRCA 1950)
1st BOAT LAUNCH (CIRCA 1951)
CLUB MEMBERS (CIRCA 1952)
PORTSEA CARNIVAL (CIRCA 1956)
PORTSEA CARNIVAL (CIRCA 1956)
BOAT LAUNCH (CIRCA 1958)
SURF BOAT AT MOBIL (CIRCA 1960)
CLUBHOUSE APPEAL (CIRCA 1962)
CLUB CHAMPS (CIRCA 1962)
PRESENTATION NIGHT (CIRCA 1965)
AFTER PATROL BEERS (CIRCA 1968)
R&R TEAM (CIRCA 1970)
CLUBHOUSE (CIRCA 1971)
PORTSEA CARNIVAL (CIRCA 1971)
PORTSEA CARNIVAL (CIRCA 1971)
PORTSEA CARNIVAL (CIRCA 1971)
CARNIVAL WINNERS (CIRCA 1971)
NAPTHINE BOAT CREW (CIRCA 72-73)
PORTSEA PATROL (CIRCA 1987)
CLUBHOUSE (CIRCA 1994)
WOMENS BOAT CREW (CIRCA 1999)
NEW UNIFORMS (CIRCA 2000)
CLUBHOUSE (CIRCA 2001)
UNCLE TOBYS SERIES (CIRCA 2002)
UNCLE TOBYS SERIES (CIRCA 2002)
60TH ANNIVERSARY (CIRCA 2009)
CLUB CHAMPS (CIRCA 2012)
LAST DRINKS (CIRCA 2017)
CLUBHOUSE DEMO. (CIRCA 2017)
NEW CLUBHOUSE (CIRCA 2019)
CLUBHOUSE OPENING (CIRCA 2019)